Don Lemon: Being black and gay is 'about the worst thing you can be in black culture'

CNN anchor Don Lemon sounded off recently, saying that being a black, gay male is the worst thing to be in the African-American community. The Transparent author says there’s a lack of acceptance of the LGBT community by black Americans. The Root reports that this statement has angered many African-American women as well as those that do not believe that homophobia is more prevalent with the African-American community.

During a media blitz for his book Transparent, gay CNN anchor Don Lemon candidly opened up about the homophobia he has experienced in the black community.

“It’s quite different for an African-American male,” he told the New York Times in May 2011. “It’s about the worst thing you can be in black culture.”

It wasn’t the first time that African Americans had been accused of not supporting the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community. But his comment inspired a swift deluge of criticism from black women, black LGBT folks and LGBT allies. In The Root, contributor Michael Arceneaux contested Lemon’s allegation. The backlash against Lemon challenged the perception that African Americans are more homophobic than any other group.